BIRCH TREE. 



BETULA. 



BETULIDE^. MONCECIA TETRANDRIA, 



French, bouleau ; Italian, maio, raaiella, betula, or betuUa. The 

 latter name is common also to the Spanish and Portuguese. 



The Birch, Betida alha^ is a native of Asia, chiefly in 

 mountainous situations ; and of Europe, from Lapland 

 to the subalpine parts of Italy, so that it is no stranger 

 to this country. This tree may be immediately distin- 

 guished by its bark, which is of a silver colour, or some- 

 times approaching to a flesh colour ; by the airy appear- 

 ance of its small leaves, in summer, and in winter by the 

 elegant drooping of its bare boughs. There are few trees 

 so ornamental in a leafless state as the Birch-tree, which 

 some have compared to an elegant woman, from the 

 peculiar grace of its appearance. Mr. Coleridge terms 

 it the 



" most beautiful 



Of forest teees_, the Lady of the woods." 



Keats speaks of 



" the silvery stems 



Of delicate Birch-trees." 



,It is happily described by Wilson, in his Isle of 

 Palms, &c. : 



on the green slope 



Of a romantic glade we sat us down. 



Amid the fragrance of the yellow broom , 



While o'er our heads the weeping Birch-tree streamed 



Its branches, arching like a fountain shower." 



